iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Congratulations to Akshay on earning 2nd place at yesterday's Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Program (BURP) Symposium! Interested in participating? We are actively recruiting participants who have knee flexor spasticity. Reach out to the PONI Lab to learn more!

This image shows a cartoon 2nd place medal beside the title "BURP Symposium". Below that is a photo of Akshay shaking hands with the judge of the BURP symposium presentations. They are standing in front of a powerpoint screen that says "2nd Place Podium, Akshay". To the right of the photo it reads "Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Program. Akshay was awarded 2nd place for his podium presentation!". Below the words is a picture of Akshay presenting, there is a large slide that is too blurry to read. At the bottom of the image it says "Congratulations Akshay". See less

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Gardening! The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) has a section on their website about adaptive gardening: www.nchpad.org/news-updates... also have a list of podcasts relating to disability advocacy and various other topics: www.nchpad.org/news-updates...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Join us in celebrating Jessica Youngblood’s (now Dr. Youngblood!) incredible milestone! Jess brilliantly defended her PhD last month, completing 5 years of work exploring family perspectives and physical activity impacts of a robotic walking aid. Congratulations, Dr. Youngblood!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

A few weeks ago, Janelle, Amanda, Simon, and Ben competed in the 8th annual CPAA Golf Without Limits tournament, an event to raise money for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. Go team! #golfwithoutlimits #cerebralpalsy #cpalberta

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Meet Nishi, one of the PONI Lab’s new summer students! She'll be looking at the intensity of physical activity when using walking aids. Nishi is in her third year of Kinesiology at UCalgary — in her free time, she loves volunteering, time with family, riding her bike, and working on new art pieces!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Meet Akshay, one of the PONI Lab’s new summer students! He’ll be looking at the effects robot-assisted walking may have on spasticity. Akshay is an undergrad in the Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology program at UCalgary and enjoys biking, cricket, and volunteering in his free time!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Share your experience with pain, wellbeing, or care in neurodisability — the HCPT team is inviting youth (under 25), families, caregivers, and providers to complete a short survey to help improve support and care in Alberta. Scan the QR code in the post or check out the link below to take part!

A bright, colorful poster inviting young people with neuro disabilities, their families, caregivers, community organizations, and health workers to complete a survey about wellbeing, pain, and care. The design features cheerful cartoon faces, playful symbols, and bold colors. Text highlights that participants’ experiences can help shape future pain care, research, and policy in Alberta. Logos for the University of Calgary, Partnering for Pain, PEAK, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation appear at the bottom, along with a QR code linking to the survey.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Exoskeletons! Researchers led a systematic review of the effects of exoskeleton-assisted therapy. We are proud to contribute this field and look forward to continuing our research. Check out the review! theconversation.com/exoskeletons... (article) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (publication)

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

All Sport One Day on June 20, 2026 will offer free sport try‑outs for those aged 6–17, as well as adapted options with community partners at the MNP Centre location! Volunteers 14+ can help out too. Find out more about the event and ways to join through the link below!

A colorful poster for “All Sport One Day” shows two cartoon children playing soccer on a grassy field under a bright sky. Bold text promotes the free June 20, 2026 event for ages 6–17, encouraging kids to try new sports and inviting volunteers to help.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Cerebral Palsy Grows Up (CPGU) is hosting a 3-part virtual series to build awareness about adult life with cerebral palsy. It’s a free event that will feature speakers from professional backgrounds and with lived experience. Register for free here! cerebralpalsyfoundation.regfox.com/cp-connect-c...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Henry, one of the PONI Lab’s patient partners, just received the Youth and Family Partner Leadership award from Children’s Healthcare Canada! We’re so proud to see him recognized for his work to improve the Canadian patient and family healthcare experience. Check out his award acceptance below!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

CBC News wants to hear about your experience applying for provincial Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) funding. If you or your family have been impacted by the FSCD program, follow the QR code or this link www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

We're excited to share that our PONI Lab member Amanda is the lead author on a newly published article in the June 2026 issue of the Journal of Biomechanics! Check out her work examining the usability of markerless motion capture for pediatric populations here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A colorful announcement graphic with the heading “Exciting Publication” in large bold letters. Below it is a screenshot of a research article titled “What not to wear: Examining the usability of markerless motion capture for pediatric populations.” The authors’ names are listed beneath the title. Amanda Rande is the first author listed and an image of her smiling is on the graphic. Decorative icons include a light bulb, a running figure, and a clothes hanger connected by green lines.

An informational poster titled “Usability of Markerless Motion Capture: Impact of clothing, comfort, & time.” It explains motion capture, compares marker-based and markerless systems, and summarizes study findings. Key points include that markerless assessments are 11 minutes faster, participants prefer everyday clothing, and gait differences between clothing types are minimal. The poster includes simple illustrations of appropriate close‑fitting clothing and examples of clothing not recommended for motion capture.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The AACPDM 2026 Lifeshots Photo Contest is now open! Submit a photo special to you of someone with a childhood-onset disability by July 26. Alex from our lab received a prize in a previous year for her photo. www.aacpdm.org/events/2026/...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The PONI Lab joined the 2026 AAPA Summit in Edmonton to share ideas on expanding inclusive physical activity. Our team led a problem‑solving session on robot‑assisted walking, supported by past participants and families! Grateful to all who made the weekend impactful!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Work by some of our lab members was just published in Disability and Rehabilitation; PhD student Jessica Youngblood was the lead author on the publication. The paper outlines part of the Robotic Walking for children who Cannot Walk (RoWaCaWa) study. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

The PONI Lab’s got our very own website — click the link below and you'll be able to take a look at all of the exciting research our team has been doing, find out what you can get involved in, and get to know our team, the PONIs, a little better! Find us here: cumming.ucalgary.ca/labs/pediatr...

Colourful poster stating "Check out the PONI Lab's new website!" with an image of a screen with the PONI Lab website on it. Banners below it say Get to know our team! and Find out what we're working on! A search bar with the website link is at the bottom of the screen.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

April is HIE Awareness Month! Traditionally, HIE hasn’t received much attention globally. #HIEAwarenessMonth is dedicated to #HoldontoHope to improve care for those affected by HIE. Follow hopeforhie.org/getinvolved/... to learn more!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Go blue and orange this April for FND Awareness Month! FND affects the nervous system, causing a range of involuntary physical, cognitive, and sensory symptoms can greatly impact daily life. Join the campaign, and learn how to spread awareness and donate through #FNDaware and fndhope.org/fndaware/

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Ableism describes discriminatory actions against another because of a disability. The University of Calgary is hosting the UCalgary Breaking Barriers Day cumming.ucalgary.ca/labs/better-... where attendees will engage in learning about disability justice and what they can do to avoid ableism.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Looking for adapted spring activities? Check out the Calgary Adapted Hub to find out more about the inclusive programs available across the city! Options for this spring/summer include swimming, creative dance, and multi‑sport programs – check out CAH’s site for details: www.calgaryadaptedhub.com

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Today is Purple Day! The effects of this common neurological condition have not always been properly understood by the general public, and Purple Day was first introduced to change that. Join us today in helping raise awareness about epilepsy. Follow this link to learn more: purpleday.org

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Sign up for the Million Reasons Run by March 31 and you might win ON running shoes! For 31 days, you run whenever, wherever, and for as long as you want throughout the month of May. The donations you raise will help support your local children's hospital lifesaving research — more info linked below.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a time to recognize neurodifferences make our world unique. Always, we should ensure the environment and systems in our communities are structured to accommodate people of all neurological backgrounds. www.neurodiversityweek.com

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

#BrainAwarenessWeek runs March 16–22, highlighting brain health and the need for advancing research, treatments, and supports for the billions affected by neurological conditions — nearly 2 in 3 Canadians alone will face a brain disorder. Learn more about BAW via the Dana Foundation (link below).

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

The Calgary Sledge Hockey Association is hosting the Matt Cook Memorial Cup from April 3-5! Sledge hockey teams will be coming from all across Western Canada to compete. For more information, check out the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association’s social media platforms listed on the image.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games kick off today, featuring 665 athletes in 79 events across six sports! Watch free coverage on CBC Gem and support Canadian Paralympians by claiming a virtual seat to help #FillTheStands and support the journeys of future para athletes.

A colorful promotional poster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games featuring illustrated para athletes in winter sports like sled hockey and alpine skiing. Text highlights over 600 athletes, six sports, 79 medal events, CBC Gem coverage, and a $25 donation to help #FillTheStands.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Participate in robotic‑assisted walking device researxh! If you have experience/interest in using or working with devices like the Trexo or Agilik, or with equipment lending programs — you’re invited to take a short survey about this kind of tech or lending programs. Contact us for more details!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

March is Brain Health Awareness Month! We’ve summarized a couple facts about brain injuries, some of which came from www.brainlove.ca. Now is a great time to learn more about how we can support research and treatments for brain injuries. As the month progresses, we'll talk more about brain health.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Tomorrow is Rare Disease Day! Join us in raising awareness and advocating for fair access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for the 300 million people affected worldwide! On Feb 28, help spread the word, light up your home, support those living with rare diseases, and learn more at raredisease.org.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Pink Shirt Day is Wednesday, Feb. 25! The day isn’t just about standing up against bullying, but about recognizing we are all unique. Our differences invite us to use kindness, compassion, and empathy to understand one another, recognizing the world is a beautiful place because of its diversity.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

PONI Lab is proud to be part of ACHRI, a leading child and maternal health research community. ACHRI supports 400+ researchers across 10 faculties, driving 20% of UCalgary’s research. Check out what else they’ve done in the last 5 years through their impact report (linked below)!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

The Cerebral Palsy Research Network has invited individuals to submit photos as part of their 5th annual photo contest. It’s a great way to share a stories in preparation for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month in March. Follow the link below to learn more and submit your photo! cprn.org/your-cp-stor...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Hockey Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee just announced the 17‑player Para‑ice hockey roster for Milano Cortina 2026, with help from Calgary’s own Sledge Hockey Association, in the video linked below. Catch all the action for free next month on CBC Gem!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Meet the team! We are excited to introduce Abby Ackroyd, our newest Research Coordinator. Abby has her BSc in Biological Sciences and MSc in Biomedical Engineering. She's worked in medical research since her first year of university and hopes to continue being involved in medical interventions.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Tune in to the Country 105 Caring for Kids Radiothon Feb 4–6 to support kids and care teams at Alberta Children’s Hospital! Thinking about becoming a Miracle Maker? All new and increased monthly donations will be matched for a year! #YYCRadiothon #ACHFamily

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

⚽️ Soccability and the GOOD Games Calgary are hosting an adapted soccer showcase on Sunday, February 15. It’ll be a great opportunity to get active and learn more about adaptive soccer. Follow the QR code on this post to learn more about the event and register.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Check out this Trexo feature! Marc, a Trexo specialist and father to Mitchell,who uses a Trexo due to a rare mobility condition, shares their family’s journey in a Toyota Mobility Foundation video. Hear the full story through the link below:

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉 2025 was an exciting and productive year. Many of our studies made great strides last year; we saw the publication of results from some of our studies and the opportunity for some of our lab members to present their work... and we also expanded our team. Here’s to 2026! ✨

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Check out this awesome video which highlights an important message about the social constructs of disability: All people are people, and though the ways people live their lives may vary, that doesn’t mean one person is more remarkable than another. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFP...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Meet the team!⭐️ We are thrilled to introduce Sabrina Marsha Buharideen. She’ll be analyzing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs). She is passionate about education and research and seeks to establish herself as a successful clinical researcher.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

🦿📝 Participate in research! Have you used, prescribed, or supported someone with a robotic walking device? Share your experience in a short online survey to help improve access and shape the future of mobility. Email poni.lab@ucalgary.ca or check out the QR codes below!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

🦌🛷 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at PONI Lab! This week we became the PONI Express, decking our door for ACH C.A.R.E.S. with a western theme and horses, a wagon, a tree, and ornaments featuring our team. Stop by C1-405 to see it! Happy holidays from the PONI Lab!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

✨ Join us today in recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Globally, we’ve made strides in improving accessibility. As a lab, we are dedicated to continuing our research on finding new ways to improve quality of life and health for individuals living with neuromotor impairments.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

⚙️🚶 Meet the Agilik: a smart orthosis designed to aid gait. Using sensors and knee motors, it’s able to support or resist knee extension and flexion. At PONI Lab, we’re exploring its rehabilitative impacts — stay tuned for insights and future plans!

A colourful image explaining that the Agilik device is a smart orthotis. that assists with knee extension and flexion. The image has a picture of the Agilik test drive on someone's leg, and a drawings of a boy wearing the Agilik and walking.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

We are saddened to hear Alice Wong has passed away. Alice was a strong advocate for eliminating ableism as well as promoting disability rights and justice. Let’s honour the legacy she leaves behind because it is one that will help pave the way for better lives for those living with disabilities.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

🔬🌐 Communicating science with impact! On Oct 29, HBI & Tanenbaum hosted the 7th Open Science in Action Symposium. PONI Lab’s Erin, Jess & Amanda shared their work, with Amanda helping organize. A great step toward a more open, inclusive research future. Until next year!

Collage from the 'Open Science in Action 2025 Symposium' post from PONI Lab featuring a banner with institutional logos and a lab scene, a conference presentation, a colorful graphic of a horseshoe labeled 'PONI', and two PONI lab members presenting beside a monitor with research visuals.

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

📣We’re hiring! We’re seeking an organized, motivated, and personable individual to join our team as a Research Assistant. They’ll be working alongside our diverse team with a chance to advance projects and interact with research participants. Apply here: internal.careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1700817...

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Wrapping up our AACPDM series is a poster on a PONI robotic walking study led by Alicia Hilderley (UCalgary). It explores how overground robotic walkers affect kids with mobility impairments — long-term use may boost functional ability and activity. Check it out below!

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PONI Lab @ponilabresearch.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

📊 Poster power: Jessica, a PhD candidate in the PONI Lab, presented at AACPDM on the impact of robotic-assisted walking on kids with mobility impairments. Check out her poster for more details!

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